Snippets & Sketches: The Fall Ball

In her column “Snippets & Sketches,” Lily Zou reflects on what it means to live a beautiful life.

I whirl away with my partner on the dance floor, skirt swishing, legs in step. The music ends, and we grin at each other. “That was great!”

I catch my breath, my gaze wandering around the crowd. Someone approaches. ”Do you want to dance?” “Sure!” And we’re onto a four-step swing.

I’d never been to a ball before. I’m not in Social Dance, and the only dance I know is from the beginner’s class an hour ago. But I am lucky enough to dance with knowledgeable leads. I try my best to follow, match their steps and respond to the slight pressure indicating a turn. It’s exhilarating.

I’m congratulating myself on being quick on the uptake when the song changes. Suddenly, the usual moves don’t fly. My partner, an older man named Mr. Wei, looks askance at me.

I laugh, exposed. “I don’t really know this dance.”

“This is Argentine tango!” he exclaims, showing me the step. I try it out, delighting in the twisting of my hips, the dramatic flare of my skirt. He gives a few more pointers as we go along. It feels amazing to be exactly in sync with another person, moving in relaxed flow, at once spontaneous and concerted.

On the dance floor, I meet community members, MechE PhD students, law students. Most of them started right here, only a year ago. Anyone, it seems, can social dance.

Before I know it, we are at our last dance. Partners form a wide circle around the ballroom. The waltz begins, gorgeous and gliding. After the first few counts, I smile and thank my partner as he passes me off to the right without losing time, without breaking the flow. And on to the next. The world is a whirl of sight and sound; each face smiles with pleasure, whirling, whirling until the song is done.

It’s midnight. Flushed with exertion and pleasure, toes protesting, I begin my walk back. The music still plays in my head. Sometimes, I smile for no reason and do a little waltz-step before continuing on my walk.

The Fall Ball is easily the most fun I’ve had in a long, long time. It is the kind of fun whose memory hugs you like a warm coat, like (I imagine) the fizz of champagne, like the feeling of smiling stupidly when you’re in love.

I can’t wait for the next ball. This time, I’ll know the dances.

The post Snippets & Sketches: The Fall Ball appeared first on The Stanford Daily.